Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
Summary
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Model BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105LS A-1, BO- 105LS A-3, and BO-105S helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting certain main rotor blades for debonding of the erosion protective shell. If the erosion protective shell is debonded, you would be required to replace the main rotor blade with an airworthy main rotor blade. This proposed AD is prompted by the results of an inspection on a BO-105 helicopter where debonding was discovered on a main rotor blade erosion protective shell, and it was determined that the debonding was due to incorrect installation of the erosion protective shell. Subsequently, an incident occurred where a BO-105 helicopter lost its main rotor blade erosion protective shell during flight. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect debonding of the main rotor blade erosion protective shell which could lead to an unbalanced main rotor, high vibrations, damage to the tail boom or tail rotor, and loss of control of the helicopter.